Driving Data Center Change, one event at a time

Today Steve Manos is hosting the latest "Lee Technologies on Tap" event in Chicago.  I've seen the list of attendees, and I would go if I hadn't made vacation plans 6 months ago.

A typical data center event will be organized around a theme and revenue model.  The revenue comes from a combination of sponsorship and paid attendees.  But, something is wrong when attendees pay to hear from those who have the most amount of sponsorship money.  To maximize revenue, the event organizers will get guest speakers to draw in the attendees and the sponsors as how important the event is.  Which is all part of the game/method in running events.  Sometimes event organizers can even get additional revenue by selling the speaking slots on the side.  Now for those of you who get guest speaking spots that are not vendors you may be thinking I don't have to pay, but you are most of the time the filler that pads around the vendor speaking positions.  The event people sprinkle a few around and it looks like an industry event.

What is wrong with this?  After 2 or three events you find you aren't learning much.  The main reason you go to the events is to network with other in the industry.

What happens if you change the event model and make networking the purpose of an event? So people want to attend to network not just meeting people, but discussing issues that are important in data centers.  No presentations is the rule.  Being able to go to an event on a regular basis with peers in your local area to drink a few beers creates a self-organizing dynamic.  Those users who are discussing important issues have a following.  Those users who blow a lot of air and are self absorbed sound just as shallow as the salesman.  If you are one of the lucky few vendors who get to attend you need to be careful not to drop into a sell mode, probing details about data center equipment that are clearly ways you are looking to sell your product. (what is a common practice at typical data center events.)  If you share your ideas and listen to others you can stay.

The popularity of Steve Manos's method is growing and it doesn't hurt that Mike Manos will be there as well.

Ironically, I think people, vendors and attendees, would pay to go to the event now that it has critical mass.  Maybe the event should be run as the "Data Center Club."  Focusing on the business networking is driving discussions and information exchange people want. 

This challenges the typical rule of Data Centers like "Fight Club".

Wal-Mart, Data Centers and The Fight Club Rule

June 3rd, 2006 : Rich Miller

“The first rule of Fight Club is – you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is – you DO NOT talk about Fight Club.”

Some companies take the Fight Club approach with their data centers. You DO NOT talk about the data centers. One of these companies is Wal-Mart, which has piqued the curiosity of the media with its closed-mouth response to curiosity about the company’s 125,000 square foot data center in Joplin, Mo. The Joplin Globe describes it as a “building that Wal-Mart considers so secret that it won’t even let the county assessor inside without a nondisclosure agreement.” Wal-Mart gladly supplied them with more ammunition. “This is not something that we discuss publicly,” Wal-Mart senior information officer Carrie Thum told the paper. “We have no comment. And that’s off the record.”

Fight club was viral.

More fight clubs form across the country, and they become the anti-materialist and anti-corporate organization called "Project Mayhem"

Lee Technologies on Tap is having its first Atlanta event hosted by Eric Gallant today as well.

Read more

Competing for Top Data Center Talent - energy efficient vs. Green/Sustainable

Green Data Center is a topic that gets discounted by many.  But, talking to a good friend who is passionate about green data centers, he made the point how often being environmentally responsible comes up in his hiring.

If you are hiring someone who is in their 20s.  (Note: I am turning 50, so I am twice as old as the people you are hiring)  If all things are equal between companies are they going to pick your company because you are passionate about energy efficiency or passionate about the environment?

Here is an Google post were efficiency is discussed.

Google is looking for highly motivated individuals to provide leadership and oversight of our state-of-the-art datacenter facilities. Our datacenters are industry-leading examples of innovative capital- and energy-efficient designs in action.

Mike Manos posts on his Uptime Symposium presentation on CO2K.

This year my talk was about the coming energy regulation and its impact on data centers, and more specifically what data center managers and mission critical facilities professionals could and should be doing to get their companies ready for what I call CO2K.   I know I will get a lot of pushback on the CO2K title, but I think my analogy makes sense.  First companies are generally not aware of the impact that their data centers and energy consumption have, Second most companies are dramatically unprepared and do not have the appropriate tools in place to collect the information, which will of course lead to the third item, lots of reactionary spending to get this technology and software in place.  While Y2K was generally a flop and a lot of noise, if legislation is passed (and lets be clear about the very direct statements the Obama administration has made on this topic) this work will lead to a significant change in reporting and management responsibilities for our industry.

Think we are ready for this legislation?

If you are young and idealistic, realizing the past ignorance of environmental impact is making the world worse, who would you pick?  Working for Google or Mike Manos?

It is hard to find passionate intelligent data center staff who want to do the right thing.  But, it is much easier if you make a Green Data Center part of your recruiting.

Some have stumbled on the green data center recruiting benefits, and they feel good.

Do you?

Read more

Right Time To Push Climate Change, Obama calls for action

For those of you who thought Climate Change was a dead issue in the US, the BP spill has created an opportunity to push for climate change.  NYTimes reports on president Obama's latest call to action.

Obama Tells Congress to 'Seize the Moment' on Climate Legislation

Published: June 16, 2010

President Obama challenged the country last night to unify behind a "national mission" to reduce its reliance on oil and coal, using his first Oval Office address to pressure Congress into acting quickly on clean energy legislation.

Can you imagine being a oil industry lobbyists, trying to tell Congress why climate change is bad for the economy?

Obama promised to make the oil giant place billions into a holding account that would be used to compensate people who've lost wages, before pivoting into a sweeping promotion of a renewable power economy that would prevent future disasters like the spill while creating jobs.

"Time and again, the path forward has been blocked -- not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor," Obama said. "The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight."

"We cannot consign our children to this future," he added. "The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America's innovation and seize control of our own destiny."

The push is on for climate change.

"I think it's the right push at the right time," said David Hunter, director of U.S. policy with the International Emissions Trading Association and a former climate aide to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a key swing vote on climate legislation. "It gives an opportunity to get legislation done this summer. It's a narrow window, but it is there."

Are you ready to report your data center carbon emissions?

Read more

Santa Clara Valley Water District restricts water use

Water is a topic that few discuss in data centers, but more and more thanks to companies like Google and data center leaders like Mike Manos water is discussed much more than 2 years ago.  Water is a category I added from the beginning to this Green Data Center blog.

I am in SJ for the last few days, and the SJ Mercury had the Water Crisis Over? on the front page.

Water crisis over? Everywhere in the Bay Area but Santa Clara County

By Paul Rogers

progers@mercurynews.com

Posted: 06/15/2010 06:24:25 PM PDT

Updated: 06/15/2010 09:04:58 PM PDT

Grass is green. Reservoirs are brimming. Rainfall in San Jose is 114 percent of normal. The Sierra was thick with snow all spring.

Yet, despite the wettest spring since 2006, Silicon Valley's largest water provider on Tuesday voted to keep in place mandatory water conservation measures for this summer, becoming the only Bay Area water agency to demand reductions from the public this year rather than asking for voluntary savings.

"Don't be fooled by the rain. Our worries aren't over," said Dick Santos, chairman of the Santa Clara Valley Water District board. "From now on, conservation is a way of life. We have the same amount of water today as when Adam and Eve were on Earth. Now we have billions of

One of these days water conservation will be a standard practice for the majority of data centers.  Don't just think of the cost of the water and sewage, but the risks to your data center operations for a given amount of water use?  I bet most data centers would run out of water before power if the facility was islanded due to utility infrastructure failure.  The trucking in of diesel for generators is manageable.  Trucking in water could be a magnitude more .

Water is one of the most under appreciated Earth's resources. 

Read more

Data Center Technical Targeting Analyst

Data Centers are complex systems, but there are many more complex systems that have had a bunch of smart people thinking about how to solve tough problems.

I've been going down the path of what others do and found this job post for a CIA Technical/Targeting Analyst.

Technical/Targeting Analyst

Work Schedule:
Full Time

Salary:
$42,209 – $136,771

Location:
Washington, DC metropolitan area

Do you have an aptitude for solving challenging puzzles? Are you able to focus on technical details while maintaining a “big picture” perspective? Do you enjoy writing and briefing on the important results of your work? The Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Science and Technology is seeking candidates to serve as Technical Analysts and be part of a dynamic team that unites three disciplines—analysis, development and operations—to maximize our collection advantage.

As a Technical Analyst you will be a pivotal member of a mission that pioneers solutions that enable the DST to collect intelligence against our nation's highest priority threats in a global environment that is often hostile, fast-paced, and technologically savvy. We are looking for high-energy, intellectually curious individuals who thrive on tackling the most difficult all-source analytic efforts in support of cutting-edge operations using specialized, state-of-the-art tools and technologies. This work is increasingly complex and highly dynamic, affording the successful candidate considerable opportunity to address high-profile intelligence issues and apply the full-range of analytic tradecraft to sophisticated, challenging DST mission covering many regional areas including: the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Europe and Latin America as well as developing substantive expertise on terrorism, proliferation, cyber threats, narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

Couldn't you take the first paragraph and apply it to data centers?

Do you have an aptitude for solving challenging puzzles? Are you able to focus on technical details while maintaining a “big picture” perspective? Do you enjoy writing and briefing on the important results of your work? The Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Science and Technology Data Center Agency (DCA) is seeking candidates to serve as Technical Analysts and be part of a dynamic team that unites three disciplines—analysis, development and operations—to maximize our collection  Data Center advantage.

Hiring a CIA spook could be an interesting way to gain insight.

Data Centers are ready for change and the analyst role could be a key tool to figure out a better way.

Read more